Automatic piano.



M. CLARK. AUTOMATIC PIANO.

APPLIOATION FILEP MAY 17, 1909..

Patented Mar/12, 1912.

M. CLARK. I AUTOMATIC PIANO. u'rmo nlon ZII'ILED IAY17, 190a.

Patented M 8.1. 12, 1912. 4 snnn'ra siztn'r a. H

# N WW 2 r M. CLARK. 1

AUTOMATIC} PIANO. nruomlon FILED MAY 17, 1909'.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912'.

4 Mimi's-Sus 4.

UNITED s'rAtrEs PATENT OFFICE;

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, MELVILLE CLARK, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State have invented new and useful in which are contained the primary pneuof Illinois, Improvements in Automatic Pianos, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming apart thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an improved construction of an instrument of 'the character of a piano, which is to be operated automatically under the control'of perforated roll controllers for play ing music of more than one part-,as a melody and accompaniment.

It consists of the features of construction shown and described as indicated in the claims.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a vertical fore-and-aft section of the pneumatic action and controlling devices in a piano embodying this invention, section being made in vertical fore-and-aft plane through the tracker devices at: the line 11 on Fig. 2. Fig. '2 is a section at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1. Fig.3 is a section at the line 3-3 on Fig.2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section of a pneumatic row 16. Fig.

16-17, looking in the direction 'o'f the arrow 17.

without manual keys. Any suitable sup-- operating device for shifting certain valve slide bars. Fig. 5 is a section at theline 55 on Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a front edge elevation of the tracker device. Fig. 8 is a sectionat the line 8-8 on Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a detail section similar to Fig. 4 of a pneumatic. device. for operating another slide, showing a portion of the slide and operating connections. Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.-

and 15 are plan views of portions of controller sheets for; cooperating with thetracker bar to control the automatic adjustment of.th'e valve bars or slides. Fig. 16 is a detail elevation of a portion of a slidewhich is mounted at the plane 1617 on in the direction of the ar- Fig. 1, looking 17 is a section at the line The; instrumentshown in the drawings is in general of the nature of an upright piano portingand inclosing frame or case may be. understood to beindicated the conventional representation of parts ofsuch case and frame thereof. At the position which w ld be suit-able for manual .keysjit they 's-p ecificatiim 61! Letters raten'q;

, I nnrvrrrn cramg' or cnroaoo rrrmoxs.

' avmmm enae.

Patented' Mar. 12, 1912.

I. Application filed May i1,1ada seria1na496,608.,

were present, ther is provided a horizontal table, A, above which there is mounted a principal pneumatic action comprising motor pneuinatics, B, mounted on a box containing the primary pneumatic chamber, B,

matics, B all in the familiar form and construction of such devices for autopneumatio playing mechanisms. Supported by the same table, A, there is provided a supplemental action comprising motor neumatics, C, which are mounted below the table, A, and which are connected also to the primary pneumatic chamber, C in which are the customary primary pneumatics, C identical in form, construction and operation with those of the principal action.

The exhaust devices comprise pumpers D, mounted below the foundation board E and bellowsF and G mounted above said foundation board and provided with a communication in and through said foundation board in a manner well understood but not illustrated, through which both of said bellows are subject to the exhaust action ofboth the pumpers. Said bellows F and G are provided with the usual expanding springs, not illustrated, such springs of the bellows F being stronger than those of the bellows G, with the well understood purpose and result of making it possible to maintain a higher tension in the chamber E with which the bellows F communicates, than in the chamber E with which the bellows G communicates, the latter bellows being-provided in a familiar manner with a valve, not illustrated, for closing its communication with the pumpers before the complete collapse of said bellows G, and so prevent fur-. ther exhaustion of the chamber E beyond the degree which will collapse it against the resistance of its relatively weak springs.

The tracker device for this instrument is filed April 8, 1909, comprising a tracker board, 0, havin' two sets of tracker ductsi M and N, the ormer more widely space than the latter and comprlsi-ng 88 ducts for playing over the full range of an ordinary piano, the latter being more'narrowlly-spaced so as to comprise within the lengt of the series, M, 10 additional ducts, making a total of 128 ducts, beside as many moreas may be desired to afford range'for transposition and for supplemental purposes, certain of winch I are hereinafter described. The ducts of the rearwardly facing edge 7 series, M, are formed in the main body of provided with ducts, n to receive the 4:0

or more tubes, N 20 or more at each end of the other series, the intermediate 88 tubes, N connecting with the series, N, being diverged or splayed from their connection with the rib, O to their connection with the rib, so that at the latter connection they are spaced the same as the other series. All the ducts in the-rib, O, of the series, N,that is, those in which the tubes, N and N, are interposed, emerge through the rearwardly facing surface of the rib, 0 being distribjlt-ed in that surface as fully explained in my said application Serial No. 488,625 so that a slide, P, mounted against said surface, having opening through it- 88 duets with which flexible tubes, P are connected, may be'adjusted to register its ducts either with the 88 ports of the ducts of the series, M, or with the 88 the slide.

middle ports of the ducts of the series, N, for bringing into service either of said series, M or N, ,at will. From the slide, P, flexible tubes, p and p lead to a depending rib, O traversed fore and-aftby the ducts, 0 and of, with whichithe tubes, p and, p respectively, connect, saidducts emerging upon thetrear side of said rib. This rib is also traversed by ducts, '0 ,"connect;ed by tubes, 42*, with the ducts,'-n -,,which connect with the forty tubes, N twenty at each end, in the end extensions-of the rib, ()1 All the ducts of the rib, 0 emerge at the rear side thereof for registraiion'varicusly, as hereinafter explalned, with ducts of'a slide or valve ban-P The-ducts, a, in the rib, O have their inouthsextended at the rear surace ofitherib, O in grooves, 0 for pro longed re%'stratio n with the .ducts, p of j 3 For eachof the ducts, 0 in the rib, the slide, P hastwo ducts, p and 19, positioned for registration, one at a time, with the respective ducts, 0 (see Fig. 3); and said-slide, P, has ducts, p? for registering with the ducts, 0 pesitioned for such registration at the same time; that is, at the same position of the slide as that at which-the ducts, p, registerwith the ducts, 0' All of said series of groups are distributedinto a plurality of rows, as indicated in Fig. 2, staggered so asto obtain necessary space longitudinally tor registration eleven at the other end of said middle and adjustment as indicated. From the ducts, p, p, p and p flexible tubes, P P, P and P lead as follows,the tubes, P and P directly to the principal action, as indicated in respect to one of said tubes in Fig. 1, the tubes, P bein connected with 67 pneumatics at the midd e portion of the action; and the tubes, P, with 21 pneumatics, of which ten are at one end and grou of 67 the tubes, P and P are connects to the supplemental action, one of said tubes being shown so connected in Fig. 1; the tubes, P 21 in number, being connected to the pneumatics at the middle portion of said action, and the tubes, P 40 in number, 20

at each end, being connected to the pneumatics at the opposite ends of said supple mental action,

From the arrangement of ducts in the rib, O, and slide, P respectively, as above described, and as clearly described in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that at one position'of the slide within the range of its longitudinal adjustment,--viz., the position at which it is illustrated in Fig. 3,-all of the ducts of the slide are cut ofi' from the corresponding ducts of the rib; that uponmovement of the slide to the left in said figure far enough to bring the ducts, p into initial registraw =tion'with the ducts, .0, all of the ducts of the slide, except the ducts, p will be in registration with the corresponding-ducts of the rib; and at this position, the middle 67 tubes, P, will ,beco-nnected withthe middle portion of the principal action, and the tubes,

P and P, will be connected with the entire supplemental action; that upon movement of'the slide another step in the same direction for bringing the ducts, '39, into registration with the ducts, 0 the ducts,

12?", will remain in registration with the elongated mouths, 0 wit-h the ducts, 0*, while the ducts, p and 72 will be carried out of registration withthe ducts,0 and 0 respectively; and that at this position, the instrument will be connected for playing 88 notes on the principal action, the supplemental action being 'put out of service; that upon movement of the slide another step in the same direction for carrying theducts, p, out of registration with the ducts, 0, the ducts, p, alone will remain in registration with the elongated months, 0, of the ducts,

0, and that at this adjustment, the instru-- ment will be connected for bringing into service the middle portion only-67 notesof the principal actionfor playing what is commonly called 65-note music, the two additional notes being available for transposition if the tracker device is suitablymounted for that purpose.

It is designed that the adjustments provided, as described, for: adapting the instrument to be controlled and caused to play by perforated controller sheets ofvarious of th racket for controlling neumatic devices hich move the slides, P and P respectively, to the positions corresponding to the character of the controlling sheet. For this purpose, a pneumatic motor is connected to each 1 the slides. These two motors are substantially alike, the slides only having slightly diiieren't provision for being engaged by them, and the description of one of the motors will suliice for both. Fig. 4: shows a section of said motor associated with a portion of the slide, P which is, provided with means for actuation by the motor, which wi l now he described The device is located at one end of the instrument substaimtially in line with the slide which is to be operated. It comprisesa bracket or sup porting bar, T, upon which there is mounted two primary pneumatic chambera S and 3, each containing a primary pneumatic, S and s controlling by the usual valve means motor pneumatics, S and 8 The moving members of the motor pneumatics are connected with feed dogs, S and 8 respectively, which are arranged to thrust in opposite directions toward each other by the collapse of the respective motor pneumatics, and in such thrust engage abutments on the slide bar to be operated, such slide bar being ex tended at the end to proper position to carry such abutments. In Fig. 4, the slide bar illustrated ar which has for engagement of the dog, S a singletoothed abutment, T and for engagement of the dog, 8?, a.

triple toothed abutment, T In Fig. 9, there is shown in connection with the pneumatic device, identical with that already described and shown in Fig. i, a portion of the slide. bar, P, having a single tooth abutment, T, for engagement by both of the dogs, S and sfl for thrusting the bar in opposite directions, according to which pneumatic, S or sa is energized. Flexible tubes, ,3 and s connect the primary pneumasic chambers, Sand 5, of the pneumatic "devices for operating both the slides, with the exhaust chamber to which the said tubes run by any convenient course not shown. Tubes,\ and 8., lead fromtracker ducts,

o and 0 respectively, to the primary pneumatics, S and c of the device for operating the slide,P?, and similar flexible tubes. S

andls',,connect sii filarly with the primary pneumatics o'fthe other device for operating the slide, P, being extended from tracker ducts,'0 and 0".

provided. at its marginal portions at the initial end with aperturesin two longitudinal The controller-sheet, -W,

lines corresponding tothe position of the tracker ducts, 0 and oflfor controlling the said two pneumatic devices, for operating the slides, P .and P3. It beingunderstood that normallyv and in the absence of any actuation, the slide, P, stands atposi'tion for bringing into service the tracker ducts of the wider scale and for cutting off those of the narrower scale, it thecontroller sheet introduced has its perforations out according to the narrower scale, such sheet is provided at the proper position at the initial end with an aperture, for registering with the tracker duct, 0 which, when-such registration occurs causes the motor pneumatic, S of the pneumatic device pertaining to the slide, P, to be collapsed, so that its dog which normally stands engaged with the abutment,.T*, operating against said abut- 'ment, thru sts the slide, 'P, in direct-ion for reversing the registration; that is, for bringing its ducts into-registration with the tracker ducts of'thenarrower scale. When the controller sheet runs as the tracker, it uncovers the duct, 0 which causes the opposite motor pneumatic, of the same device to be coltapsed, and to cause its dog, 8 which stands in engagement with the opposite side of the abutment toot-h, T, from that at which the dog, S was originally engaged to operate the slide, P, in the opposite direction from that at which it was thrust by the dog, S restoring the registration the slide with the ducts of the larger scale. If the controller sheet/introduced is designed for utilizing the entire range of tracker ducts of the narrower-scale, the controller sheet is provided at its initial portion with one aperture, 10 in the upper longitudinal line for registering with the tracker duct, 0 ,which'cau'ses the motor pneumatic, of

the device shown in Fig. 4. to be collapsed,.

and the dog S to be thrust forward into engagement with the innermost tooth of the abutment, T on the slide bar, P and thrust that slide-bar one step, away from the position shown inFig. 4, which is the normal position, bringing all. the ducts of the slide bar, except the ducts-39 into registration with the corresponding ducts of the rib, 0 for the result desired. If the controller sheet is cut on the narrower scale for playing 88 notes by means of thefprinc'ipal action, it will be provided with twoapertures, which will cause the motorfpneumatic, 5- to be collapsed and extended twioe,,s'o as to thrust and-retract the dog, *s jfiftwice, engaging successivelythe first and second teeth of the abutment, T and actuating the bar, P two steps, efiecting the registration steps, producing the desired registration.

- If the controller sheet is cut on the wider scalefor playing 88 notes in the principal ac- I tion, it will be without any aperture, w at the line for registering with the tracker duct, so that the bar, P, will be left standing in its normal or original position regis- -tered with the tracker ducts of the wider scale, and the controller sheet will be provided at the initial portion with two apertures, 10 in line for registering with the tracker duct, 0 which will cause the bar, P to be moved two steps from initial position, giving the desired registration. If such controller sheet is cut on the wider scale for playing 65 notes, it will be provided with threeapertures, 'w for registering with the r tracker duct, 0, causing the bar, Pf, to be actuated three steps for the desired negistra ti'on. In every case when the paper runs off the bar, all the tracker ducts being uncovered, "all the motor neumatics, S and 8 may be collapsed; but to prevent the collapse in that case of the motor pneumatic, s and cause only the motor pneumatics, S to experience the action, the motor pneumatic, .9 has a vent aperture, 8 controlled by a valve, .V, carried on a lever arm, V ful crumed between its ends on the fixed wall of the motor pneumatic, s and connected from the end opposite the valve by a link, V with the moving wall of the pneumatic, S From this connection, it results that whenever the neumatic S is 'colla sed its initial movement lifts thevalve, V, and vents the motor pneumatic, S so that it does not collapse. I l d I The principal and supplemental actions respectively, mounted on their primary pneumatic chambers respectively above and below the table A, have their corresponding motor pneumatics B and C in substantially vertical alinement so that pitmen It extending through guide eyes, a, on the table A, and reaching. at their upper ends the hammer action X of the piano, extends through operating fingers b and c of the corresponding motor neumatics of the principal and supplementalactions respectively, said pitmen being provided with stops '1" abovejthe respective fingers b and a so that whichever neumatic,-of the principal action or of the supplemental action,-is collapsed will actuate the pitmen for operating the hammer action.

I claim 1. In an automatic piano, in combination with the hammer action, two'pneumatic actions each comprising motor pneumatics for operating on the hammer mechanism; a table upon which both said pneumatic actions are supported one above and the other belowthe table; a pitman guide on the table for 0 crating on the hammer action, positimed and connected for action thereon of with the hammer action, two pneumatic actions, each comprising motor pneumatics for operating on the hammer action, said pneumatic actions being mounted one above the other with their corresponding motonpneumatics vertically alined; a table fixed'with respect to the hammer action between the two pneumatic actions and affording support to both of the latter; a pitman for operating upon the hammer action carried and guided by the alined moving members of the motor pneumatics, said pitmen being free to move upwardly with respect to both the alined moving members; a tracker having diiferent sets of ducts connecting with the two pneumatic-actions respectively, and means for producing different degrees of air tension in the. chambers of said two pneumatic actions.

3. An automatic piano, in combination with a hammer action, two pneumatic actions; a tracker having separate sets of ducts communicating with said actions respectively; and means for producing diiferent degrees of air-tension in the chambers of said pneumatic actions respectively, said two pneumatic actions being positioned for operating upon the hammer action, having.

the moving members of their corresponding motor pneumatics vertically alined with each other; and pitmen. carried by said alined moving members for operating upon the hammer action and free to move up- 'wardly with respect to both said moving members.

4. In an automatic piano,in combination with the hammer action, two pneumatic actions for operating upon the hammer action; a tracker device and a controller sheet oooperating therewith, the ducts of the tracker v and flexible tubes extending therefrom comprising thrce groups, one group connected with one of said pneumatic actions, a second group connected with the other of said pneumatic actions, and a third group having connections with both of said actions; valve bars interposed in the tube connections from the tracker to the pneumatic actions rspectively for controlling the communication through the tubes of the second and third groups, and pneumatic devices for moving such valve bars, the" tracker device having ducts connecting with said pneumatic de- .vic es, and the controller sheet havingaper- .t'ures for registering with said ducts.

, 5. In an automatic piano, in combination with the hammeraction, two pneumatic ac; tions for operating upon the hammer action a tracker device having its ducts and the tubes leading therefrom consisting of three 1 groups, the first group for connection with one of the pneumatic actions, the second group for connection with the other pneumatic action, and the third group branched for connection with both said pneumatic acposltion of all the ducts of the second group and one branch of the third group, and nonregistration of the other branches of the third group, and at a second position for registration of the last mentioned branches and non-registration of all the other tubes of the second and third groups, and at a third position for non-registration of all the tubes connected with it; a step-by-step feed device for actuating the valve bar; a pneumatic device for operating the step by-stepfeed, and duct connections from said pneumatic device to the tracker bar, the controller sheet having perforations for registration with said duct connections of the tracker bar for giving step-bystep' action to the feed device.

' 6. In an automatic piano, in combination with the hammer action, two pneumatic actions for operating upon it; a tracker device comprising a tracker bar having two sets of ducts differently spaced at the tracker mouth; a duct board to which the ducts of both sets lead and at which they are equally spaced; a valve bar seated on such duct board having ports for registration at one portion with one of said sets and at another portion with the other set; 'ajpneumatic device for shifting the valve bar to change its registration, the tracker bar having a duct and connections therefrom for operating such pneumatic, and a controller sheet having apertures positioned at the initial part of the sheet for registration with such duct.

7. In an automatic piano, in combination with a hammer action, two pneumatic actions for operating upon the hammer action; a tracker device having its ducts and the tube leading therefrom consisting of three groups, the first group for connection with one of the pneumatic actions, the second group for connection with the other pneumatic act-ion, and the third group branched for connection with both of said pneumatic actions; a valve bar interposed in the tube connections from the tracker bar to said actions having extending from it the entire number of tubes of all said groups, and mounted on the tracker board with arange of movement for registration at one position of all of the ducts of the second group and one branch of thethird group and non-regis tration of the other branch of the third group, and at a second position for registration of the last-mentioned branch and nonregistration of all the other tubes of the second and third groups, and at a third position for non-registration of all the tubes connected with it, the mouths of the ducts of the first group in the tracker duct board being elongated in the direction of movement of the bar to maintain registration with the ducts of the third group on the bar at said second position ;v a step-by-step feed device for actuating the valve bar; a pneumatic'devlce for operating the step-by-step feed, and duct connections from said pneumatic device to the tracker bar, the controlling sheet having perforations for registration with said, duet connections with the tracker bar for g ving step-by-step action to the feed device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereuntoset my hand this 8th day of May, 1909, at Chicago, Illinois.

MELVILLE T CLARK. Witnesses:

J. S. ABBOTT, M. Gnurannn ADY. 

